A popular campground has been closed to new bookings after multiple reports of campers becoming sick with gastroenteritis.
At least 13 people have reported contracting gastro this month at Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach in south-east Queensland, according to Department of Environment and Science (DES) spokesperson.
It is the third consecutive year a gastro outbreak has occurred at the campground, which was closed for a week in December 2020 after campers had "severe vomiting".
The department is not taking new bookings this year until December 22 at the Sarawak, Sarawak West and Notone campsites within the Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area.
The spokesperson said the department would honour existing bookings, but campers could seek a refund if they no longer wished to stay.
The campsites are less than half full, based on existing bookings.
Gastro outbreaks can 'spread quickly'
University of Queensland School of Public Health Associate Professor Linda Selvey said gastro viruses could spread quickly in densely populated campgrounds because people were sharing the same facilities.
"In a campground, pretty much everybody is going to use the toilet," she said.
"With gastro-intestinal illness, that's where the transmission happens … mainly through the faecal-oral route, but not exclusively."
Associate Professor Selvey said norovirus particles could stay on surfaces for up to two weeks and survive in water for several months.
Flies could also transmit gastro viruses, she said, particularly in camping areas where people defecated in the bush instead of the toilet.
"If they then move to your food after that, they could potentially transmit," Associate Professor Selvey said.
The department has not confirmed what specific form of gastro virus was detected.
Amenities being given 'deep clean'
The DES spokesperson said rangers had taken "swift action to increase deep cleaning of the facilities", as well as conducting more patrols to provide hygiene education to campers.
"Gastroenteritis is highly infectious and can be passed from person to person very easily," he said.
"People who are experiencing signs of illness should postpone their trip."
The department encouraged campers at Inskip to bring their own portable toilet and to thoroughly wash their hands with soap and clean running water after using bathroom facilities and before preparing food.
